Whilst following in the media the saga of the Inverness Common Good Fund cash for the closing ceremony of Highland 2007 and its associated fireworks display, I couldn't help but think back to a couple of instances over the last decade or so where there was debate over CGF money being allocated to football.
One of the longest and most bitter arguments over any decision by Inverness District Council took place across 1995-96 (dates amended by a decade thanks to Scotty's eagle eye!) when the Council stumbled from one crisis to another over David Stewart's motion to give Caley Thistle ?900,000 towards the cost of the Caledonian Stadium, or more specifically the road on which Highland Council had insisted as one of a plethora of planning conditions.
The motion was carried, then cancelled on QC's advice on the strength of the presence of the word "payable" and then there was the marginal failure of an attempt to suspend Standing Orders to have the issue discussed again. Under threat of legal action and with the future of Caley Thistle in the balance, the embryonic Highland Council (which, in its urgency to solve the problem, contacted Dougie McGilvray in his hotel room in California) agreed to pay the money from the CGF... but it had to be in two instalments due to shortage of ready funds. The whole saga was an unholy rammy which lasted for months and tore Inverness District Council apart.
Then a couple of years later, Clach were (again) in very straitened circumstances and ?280,000 of CGF money was spent purchasing Grant Street Park from ICT Properties. This was not a gift - Clach had to pay 5% of the value of the transaction annually (?14K) as rent - and the CGF continues to own Grant Street as an asset. All the same, there was still some unhappiness in certain quarters about the deal which ensured football for the Merkinch whilst acquiring an investment for the CGF as well as income.
More recently still, a very similar amount of CGF cash - ?250,000 - has been allocated to the end of 2007 celebration - at least ?150,000 of that towards a ?10,000 a minute fireworks display. Although there has been definite unhappiness about it within the Council, the allocation of these funds, much of which will be burned in a single night, certainly seems to have been rather more straightforward than the allocation of cash which saved Clach and which ultimately brought SPL football to Inverness and also opened up the entire harbour foreshore to development.
I also note with interest that the two ex Provosts - Bill Fraser and Allan Sellar - who were most involved with and supportive of the ICT cash, have stated that they believe that the allocation of the fireworks money is improper use of CGF assets since the Kessock Bridge is outwith Inverness.
Now, as an employee of Highland Council I'd better just state facts (which I have done above) rather than express opinions on HC policy (which they don't like their employees doing).
Any comparisons/ observations from those not employed by Highland Council?
Whilst following in the media the saga of the Inverness Common Good Fund cash for the closing ceremony of Highland 2007 and its associated fireworks display, I couldn't help but think back to a couple of instances over the last decade or so where there was debate over CGF money being allocated to football.
One of the longest and most bitter arguments over any decision by Inverness District Council took place across 1995-96 (dates amended by a decade thanks to Scotty's eagle eye!) when the Council stumbled from one crisis to another over David Stewart's motion to give Caley Thistle ?900,000 towards the cost of the Caledonian Stadium, or more specifically the road on which Highland Council had insisted as one of a plethora of planning conditions.
The motion was carried, then cancelled on QC's advice on the strength of the presence of the word "payable" and then there was the marginal failure of an attempt to suspend Standing Orders to have the issue discussed again. Under threat of legal action and with the future of Caley Thistle in the balance, the embryonic Highland Council (which, in its urgency to solve the problem, contacted Dougie McGilvray in his hotel room in California) agreed to pay the money from the CGF... but it had to be in two instalments due to shortage of ready funds. The whole saga was an unholy rammy which lasted for months and tore Inverness District Council apart.
Then a couple of years later, Clach were (again) in very straitened circumstances and ?280,000 of CGF money was spent purchasing Grant Street Park from ICT Properties. This was not a gift - Clach had to pay 5% of the value of the transaction annually (?14K) as rent - and the CGF continues to own Grant Street as an asset. All the same, there was still some unhappiness in certain quarters about the deal which ensured football for the Merkinch whilst acquiring an investment for the CGF as well as income.
More recently still, a very similar amount of CGF cash - ?250,000 - has been allocated to the end of 2007 celebration - at least ?150,000 of that towards a ?10,000 a minute fireworks display. Although there has been definite unhappiness about it within the Council, the allocation of these funds, much of which will be burned in a single night, certainly seems to have been rather more straightforward than the allocation of cash which saved Clach and which ultimately brought SPL football to Inverness and also opened up the entire harbour foreshore to development.
I also note with interest that the two ex Provosts - Bill Fraser and Allan Sellar - who were most involved with and supportive of the ICT cash, have stated that they believe that the allocation of the fireworks money is improper use of CGF assets since the Kessock Bridge is outwith Inverness.
Now, as an employee of Highland Council I'd better just state facts (which I have done above) rather than express opinions on HC policy (which they don't like their employees doing).
Any comparisons/ observations from those not employed by Highland Council?